Facebook and other social networking sites make it easy, breezy to reconnect with old friends. What happens, however, when you accept an old flame, thus cementing your ties for virtual eternity? Is it rude to boot them after, in a moment of conviviality, accepting their technological friendship? Once the deed’s done, can one turn back without looking petty? Or should one simply get over it and move on knowing that an ex will forever be a part of his or her online life?

I think the key phrase is “technological friendship.” I wish they wouldn’t call the connections on these social networks “friends.” If an former boyfriend, roommate, classmate, etc. (or current co-worker) adds me but we then have no interaction or messages sent through the service then I feel no guilt if they get caught up in a contact purge.

But I’m not a social network squatter. The people I’ve added are people that I’m chatting with, sending messages and sharing content with on a regular basis. I don’t make new connections just to get my numbers up.

May 22, 2008 at 9:55 am · @Reply ·

foofyjim

Bump ’em. They call it divorce for a reason.

May 22, 2008 at 12:55 pm · @Reply ·

parisinla

its okay to desolve the “tecnonlogical friendship” once the real one goes to poot.

May 22, 2008 at 2:30 pm · @Reply ·

What's Next, A Pun?

If Facebook were around when Sex and the City was on, I have a feeling Carrie Bradshaw would have narrated this exact post at the end of an episode?